Johnson City Parks and Recreation Special points of interest: ~ Park Services Winter Projects Matter -
Administration Highlights
~ Athletic Division Highlights
~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Golf Division Highlights ~ Recreation Services Division
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection I s s u e
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Park Services’ Winter Projects Matter Before you know it, you, family members and friends will be digging in at home plate, scoring a goal, romping at a park, having a picnic at a pavilion or simply stretching out on freshly cut grass. The weather’s been bleak and trips outside have been limited, but that will soon change. While the availability of seasonal and part-time employees has been limited, our Park Services staff has been hard at it prepping and planning for your return
“Work underway at this time of the year matters because it keeps our parks, playgrounds and playing surfaces safe for our patrons,” said Parks and Recreation Director James Ellis. “It beautifies our park system. It is important that all pavilions, outdoor restroom facilities, common grounds, trails, playing fields, fencing, lighting and bleachers are inspected and that repairs and or replacements are made as necessary to ensure our number one priority which is the safety of our patrons and to provide them the best experience possible when utilizing our park system.” Prior to the end of 2021, staff installed a new gate at the bottom of Buffalo Mountain that can be closed during inclement weather to improve and increase safety. Much needed repairs and improvements also are being made to the Legion Street Pool building and staff also is busy trimming trees and shrubbery where needed throughout park system.
Beginning in February, facility maintenance will begin preparations for tournaments, including checking lighting and scoreboards, repairing low infield and pitching areas, lips on the infield/outfield, repairing soccer goals and ordering supplies such as paint, chalk, bases, plates, pitching rubbers, homerun fencing, bases, rakes, brooms, tamps, infield clay and nets. When the weather breaks and you’re walking through one of our facilities, taking a walk in a neatly landscaped park, enjoying a swim, or dusting up a ballfield this spring, know that your pleasure is what we always aim for – no matter the season.
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Administration Highlights ~
Management staff has been attending training for the new ERP system
PRAB meetings begin Jan. 27..
Work is underway with a firm to design a new pavilion at Kiwanis Park.
Athletic Highlights ~
Youth basketball league play continues with 64 teams and 675 players.
Girls youth volleyball signups will wrap up Feb. 3. .
Youth soccer and adult softball registration begins Feb . 1.
Park Services Highlights ~
A new gate has been installed at the bottom of Buffalo Mountain that can be closed during inclement weather to improve and increase safety.
SORBA Tri-Cities recruited volunteers on Jan. 23 to help with the finishing touches on the new Kidd Trail within the Mountain Bike Park at Winged Deer. Volunteers helped with tread work and finishing work on sections of the trail that are nearly complete. This is an entry-level trail aimed at helping youth get involved.
Golf Highlights ~
Setting up online tee time system.
Performing annual maintenance on golf carts.
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection
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Recreation Services Highlights ~
Carver Recreation’s dine-in or carry-out Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast was held Saturday, Jan. 15. Two hundred breakfasts were prepared. Forty were dine-in and 40 were carryout. The remaining 120 meals were given to Haven of Mercy.
Two nature hikes were held on New Year’s Day. The first, a beautiful sunrise hike to White Rock overlook on Buffalo Mountain with just over a dozen hearty souls. The second, more traditional nature hike, took place at Willow Springs Park with 48 participants.
“To catch the reader's attention,
Welcome our new employees.
place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here.”
Roy Oakley, full -time recreation worker.
Senior Services Highlights ~
Hosted “Try Us Out” with 21 participants. This event gives members or potential members the opportunity to meet senior staff and find out programs that are offered under their responsibility and upcoming new programs. Tours of the center are also offered at this time and each participant is given a coupon worth $10 to be used to attend a senior program.
Presented Back on Track, Get On Board Kickoff event with 33 attendees. This program encourages the participant to make stops at each of the following: A Lifelong Learning stop An Exercise Stop A Healthy Living stop
An Arts/Crafts stop A Lifelong Sports stop Train Activity stop
The program encourages participants to try new activities in the center. The program will run through March and participants will be able to take a five hour train excursion on Tennessee Valley Railroad touring the Hiwassee Loop.
Hosted Let’s Go Travel Show with 77 in attendance to update our members on great trips planned for next year , both Center trips and ideas from other vendors.
John Ketron, part-time office assistant
Administrative Office - Winged Deer Park - 4137 Bristol Highway - Johnson City, TN Phone: 423-283-5815 Fax: 423-283-5829 Email: jcparksinfo@johnsoncitytn.org - Website: www.johnsoncitytn.org Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Upcoming Events February 1 - Youth Soccer Registration Begins
March 2 - Summer Hours (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) begin at city parks
February 3 - Adult Softball Registration Begins
March 5-6- USSSA 1st Pitch Invitational –Winged Deer Park
February 4 - Girls Youth Volleyball Registration Concludes
March 11– Glow Stick Swim—Memorial Park Community Center
February 5 - A Night Under the Stars - Daddy Daughter Dance - Memorial Park Community Center
March 12- USA Diamond Classic -Winged Deer Park
February 10 - Girls Volleyball Practice Begins
March 15 - Youth Soccer Practices Begin
February 11 - Cards & Cookies Valentine’s Day Party Memorial Park Community Center
March 15 - Adult Softball Practices Begin
February 14 - Love Muffins Valentines Day - Memorial Park March 17 - Shamrock Scavenger Hunt - City Parks Community Center February 22 - Girls Softball Registration Begins
March 17-20 - East Tennessee Classic—Winged Deer Park
February 24 - Taste of the Community and Black History Program - Carver Recreation Center
March 26 - Girls Softball Registration Concludes
February 25, 26, 27 - USA Preseason Friendly - Winged Deer Park
March 26 - USA Spring Fling - Winged Deer Park
February 25 - Family BINGO Night - Memorial Park Community Center
March 31 - Girls T-Ball Practices Begin
February 26 - Give Parents a Break - Memorial Park Community Center
March 31 - Girls Fastpitch Softball Practices Begin
February 26 - Girls Volleyball Season Begins
March 31 - Girls Machine Pitch Softball Practices Begin
February 28 - Youth Soccer Registration Concludes
April 2 - Adult Softball Registration Deadline